When police discovered one of the victim’s children was still in the backseat, an East Harlem criminal who had stolen a minivan from an East Harlem street frantically returned it.
The opportunistic robber struck at approximately 2:40 a.m. on Sunday while the victim, a 57-year-old male, was unloading groceries from his Honda Odyssey on E. 107th St. near Third Ave., according to police.
One of the father’s two children, who were ages seven and nine, got out of the car with him. Before the shocked father could respond, the robber jumped into the front seat of the minivan and drove away, leaving the other youngster inside, according to the police.
According to the authorities, the thief decided the crime wasn’t worth the bother until he noticed the toddler in the backseat. According to police, he drove around the block, parked close to the location where he swiped it, and then fled.
The youngster in the vehicle was safely returned to his family.
The crook is being sought by the police.
